Microprocessor stuck to Thermal Cooling Assembly

I would get some acetone and with the heatsink/cpu on a cloth you don't need to keep (remember acetone will eat a wood table finish!) dab acetone on the area where the cpu meets the heatsink.  Keep working at it, and also dig at it with a toothpick, gently prying with a tiny flat screwdriver.  I would keep the acetone off the cpu pins only because any residue from things it melted (old compound) would coat the pins and that ain't good.  Fingernail polish remover is acetone with perfume, but any store that sells paint supplies will have acetone.  Don't breath the fumes too long as it is a slight carcenogen, only after years of exposure.

Thanks a lot gang! I'll be sure to try that when I get home today!

-Nick

Hi,

You may be able to loosen it by twisting it, wriggle it each way to loosen the bond. I have seen some come out of the socket attached with no damage on machines where you cant loosen the Heatsink. If this does happen, dont try to prise the CPU off, just twist it.

                                                                    Regards Chris

                                                                   

I was able to remove the processor with a 1/4 inch screwdriver wrapped in some heavy-duty cotton guaze. Afterward, I took a little bit of Goo-Gone and removed the bulk of the dried grease from the Thermal Cooling Assembly and from the processor itself. They air-dried for about 30 min and I applied a new layer of heat sink grease ($2, Radio Shack) on the processor and reattached the t.c.a. The system runs like a champ, and is not that hot anymore.

Thanks for helping me out with this one.

Nick